Harwich: At 0630 on the morning of Friday June 8, 1984, Harwich's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat, John Fison, slipped her moorings to go to the aid of the 107ft schooner, Stina. Returning to Maldon from Amsterdam with nine people on board, the schooner had struck a submerged object, sprung a leak and was taking water faster than her pumps could empty it. An RAF helicopter landed two additional pumps aboard Stina and she was taken in tow by HMS Ambuscade which had been in the vicinity. Harwich lifeboat, under the command of Coxswain/ Mechanic Peter Burwood, arrived on the scene at 0940. There was a north-north-easterly strong breeze, force 6, and the sea was rough when the tow was passed from the warship to the lifeboat.

Coxswain Burwood then headed back to Harwich, making nine knots, while the pumps aboard the schooner kept the depth of water in her hull down to about ten inches. Harbour was reached at 1505 and with the help of harbour board craft, the schooner was moored safely alongside the quay. The lifeboat returned to her mooring, ready again for service at 1530, after nine hours at sea. photograph by courtesy of Dave Kindred, East Anglian Daily Times..